Party Hoppin’

We had so much to celebrate today! Our first stop was a baby shower for Jess + Matt. We have actually never met, but Karen is good friends with Jess’s mom, Chris, [who also writes a blog!], and they discovered that Jess and I have the very same due date at their weekly crochet class!! Jess and I also have a lot in common: we are married to Matts, Jess went to Duke for undergrad, and she lived in Cville while she was in UVA med school. Too bad she now lives in Nashville or we could be mom friends with babies nearly – or perhaps the very same age!

The shower was held at Chris’s house and was a lovely affair filled with baby things and delicious food.

VIDEOS

I started out with a lemonade punch

And filled up on a variety of delicious salads and BBQ –

Including several deviled eggs!! My fav!

There was an adorable baby there who provided lots of fun “practicing” entertainment for all of the parents to be –

Plus bubbles for the kiddos

And arts and crafts for all ages!

Baby clothes decorating –

Chris had stencils which was brilliant for getting nice designs

The bumble bees even had a grand ole time:

Before presents, we feasted on strawberry short cake, fruit and…

Chris’s famous carrot cake, which was topped with toasted coconut and may have been the best carrot cake I’ve ever had!

Matt and I shared both desserts

Presents!

Lots of cute stuff <3

We wished the couple a Happy August 31st and headed down the road to another special event: Drake’s 3rd birthday party! Drake is the son of our stellar sponge + dough guy, Nathan, and his wife, Stacy.

There was some pool splashin’

And playin’

And brews for the parents

Stacy and Nathan had a grand cookout planned, but sadly we could not stay since we already had dinner plans with Robert, who is visiting our bakery tomorrow from Great Harvest Newark!

We took our guest downtown for dinner to the brand-new Citizen Burger Bar! So exciting when new restaurants open.

The inside was very modern and cool, but of course we requested outdoor seating on the mall

Grass-fed beef, local cheeses and produce = two thumbs up

I ordered a regular grass-fed burger topped with pimento cheese, pickles and tomato. I ordered a multigrain bun, but was served brioche instead – which was ok because it sure tasted good. The pimento cheese wasn’t my favorite, but overall, great burger.

I had a salad on the side…requested no onions and was unpleasantly surprised. But I’m willing to forgive a new restaurant for a few mishaps during their opening month. The house dressing was good!

But the best thing I ate were the Citizen fries off of Matt’s plate – really crispy and good!!

We talked business all over dinner and then walked our merry way back home.

I third the praise for carrot cake…unbeatable! I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but super dense, rich carrot cake w/extra frosting has always been and always will be my one and only dessert of choice – yes, even at 6 am as I read this. YUM!

Kath – another awesome day of (kiddie) event snapshots…you impress me with energy and talent shining bright day in and day out, no matter your likely physical exhaustion. Hope you got some good zzz’s last night!

This was a super picture-filled and long post…I know you’re a speed blogger but it still must have taken you awhile! Thanks for the great pics of all that food at the shower. The carrot cake. wow. I love carrot cake & if you say it’s the best you’ve ever had…huge statement.

I’m working at a place this Summer that does fresh, healthy fast food that’s all prepackaged and ready to go. One of the snacks we offer is a version of deviled eggs that is stuffed with hummus instead of the egg yolks. Kind of a fun idea:) Thought you might like it!

Wow, looks like an amazing day! I have to say — the carrot cake really caught my eye because carrot cake is my FAVORITE dessert in the world. Do you think Chris would be willing to share the recipe with you/us?!

This reminded me of the Grey’s episode where Merideth squeezes a crap ton of puff paint on a onsie and calls it a day during a baby shower. That’s what I think about doing about 15 minutes into onsie decorating.

I can’t help but notice a Rumson blanket in their living room. I am from Rumson, NJ and I recognize that blanket and my high school building! Is someone from their family originally from NJ? I’m trying to see if I recognize anyone in the pictures, very funny! I read your blog daily and thoroughly enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to share everything with us! Best of luck starting your family, I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful mom!

Newark, DE great harvest is the closest to where I live (in PA) but just this past week i was going by an old bldg that was an MRI medical place that has been in the renovation process forever to become a fresh seafood place and saw a great harvest sign is now there too!!! they must be turning the space into 2 businesses…. i started freaking out to my fiance when I saw it hahaha. I think it is considered Glen Mills or Concordville PA

This must be the 300th comment on the carrot cake, but the fact that you said its the best you’ve had has kept it in my mind since originally reading the post. I went to Chris’s blog (via your link) to see if she had the recipe on there – nope! Just that the secret is extra carrots. Any way you might be able to get the recipe out of her? 🙂